Running Out of Time? The Evolution of Taiwan's Relations in Africa

Abstract

This article highlights the precarious nature of Taiwan's diplomatic relations in Africa. Whereas Cold War rationales initially benefitted Taiwan, economic interests now appear to incentivize African countries to establish relations with China. Through qualitative and quantitative data covering much of the post-World War II era, this analysis argues that economic factors have trumped political rationales for Taiwanese–African relations. In addition, this article problematizes both conceptions of diplomatic recognition and Taiwan's enduring relations with Africa.

Financing African infrastructure: The role of China in African railways

“…We included also two time-variant dummy variables: the first one considers whether the country recognizes Taiwan as a state independent from China and it is based on Rich and Banerjee (2015) and Wikipedia dedicated page. 2 The second one, that is retrieved from PPI database, indicates the presence of concessions and other Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in African railways.…”

Domestic Audiences and Economic Opportunity Cost: African Democratisation as a Determinant in the Recognition of China over Taiwan, 2001–2018

“…This has not been the case, however, at least on the African continent. Rich and Banerjee (2015: 141) perceptively observe that ‘whereas Cold War rationales initially benefitted Taiwan, economic interests now appear to incentivize African countries to establish relations with China. Through qualitative and quantitative data covering much of the post-World War II era, [their analysis] argues that economic factors have trumped political rationales for Taiwanese–African relations’.…”

“…On one hand, many reform-minded scholars, international organisations and Western governments criticise China for its indifference to the level of democracy within the African states it deals with. On the other hand, work by Timothy S. Rich and Vasabjit Banerjee (2015), who carried out a large-N study seeking to identify variables which lead African states to have relations with China over Taiwan and vice versa, finds that in the continent Taiwan tended to be more recognised by states that were non-democratic. What mechanisms may underlie such a phenomenon?…”

The real East Asian Aid model: Development assistance as an instrument of comprehensive security in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan

“…However, China refused to establish relations with Gambia. Unsurprisingly, no other countries have followed Gambia's example (Rich & Banerjee, ). Moreover, the prospect that the truce could end means that Taiwan has a strong incentive not to let relations with its diplomatic allies deteriorate.…”